Harrah's Casino

[Omaha_Gabe]

Heard from a couple people that the boat will be going and the casino will be moved to the ballroom area.  I'm not sure how true that is as they had just remodeled the boat recently.   Anybody hear anything?

[skinzfan23]

I have heard from a lady that used to work at the Mid America Center, there is a rumor that they were going to move the casino into the convention area.  Maybe they mean the convention area at Harrahs. I don't know, but either way the boat at Harrah's is the worst of the three casinos.

[jessep28]

I thought they permanently secured the riverboats? Or was that just Ameristar?

[Omababe]

I don't know, but either way the boat at Harrah's is the worst of the three casinos.

I agree that Harrah's is the most downscale of the three.

There's been scuttlebutt going around for some time now that CET (Harrah's) wants to sell/close the legacy Harrah's/Harvey's property and concentrate on the Horsehoe. The last I remember going there (wow, close to a year ago) they were doing some remodeling of the lowest deck by the bar area. Nobody I know really goes there anymore, and I haven't received any mailings/offers for that specific property for quite a while. I do get regular mailings from Horseshoe and Ameristar.

If they could get the OK to move the gaming to the existing convention/ballroom complex it may work very well. I'm not an expert on the law, but I do know that full-service non-native casinos in Iowa no longer have to be floating.

I also know that just before the Great Recession hit, Ameristar had grand plans to "expand" the casino in a land-based addition and one possible direction was for them to phase out the existing floating portion.

[lisanstan]

It was announced officially to employees last week our plans to move the casino off the boat and into the convention center. If all goes as planned we hope to start construction in January and reopen in June.

[Bosco55David]

Any idea what they are going to do with the boat itself?

[Brad]

Are they moving the casino to the Convention Space temporarily until they build a new casino out where the boat once was?

[lisanstan]

The convention center will become the casino. The new casino will be about the same size in sq ft as it was on the boat. Definitely not going to be as big as Horseshoe. Think "boutique" sized casino. I assume they will try to sell the boat, but its probably not gonna happen anytime soon. Don't know that there are a lot of buyers.

[S33]

I wonder if it would be possible to turn the boat into additional hotel space?

[Omababe]

I wonder if it would be possible to turn the boat into additional hotel space?

My guess is that the boat will go to another community where gaming must still be floating.

[Big E]

[Bosco55David]

Is the boat still operable, or is it basically just a float?

[nebugeater]

Water beds just aren't as popular as they once were.

I wonder if it would be possible to turn the boat into additional hotel space?

[lisanstan]

I believe the boat is operable. During the flood last year we worried we would have to unmoor her and put her farther out in the river.

[Omaha_Gabe]

Harrah's hopes to move casino ashore
By Tim Rohwer
WORLD-HERALD NEWS

http://www.omaha.com/article/20121018/N ... ino-ashore

COUNCIL BLUFFS — Harrah's Council Bluffs plans to retire its riverboat and move all the gambling operations currently housed on the boat into a new casino area inside the hotel, an official said Wednesday.

“The boat is aging, and it's expensive to keep it running,” said Bo Guidry, senior vice president and general manager.


Pending approval by its board of directors and the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, Harrah's plans to redesign the hotel's main floor convention center into a casino, he said. This would include a new restaurant and bar, Guidry said. Approximately 20 table games and 600 slot machines would then be relocated from the boat to the new area, he said. As part of this move, there will be 150 fewer slot machines, Guidry said. The number of gambling tables will stay the same.

“We've been spending $300,000 to $400,000 a year just to dredge around the hull so that the boat could continue to float,” Guidry said.

The idea of moving off the boat has been discussed for several years, he said, and those discussions intensified after the 2011 floods.

[Omaha_Gabe]

Images of what the renovation will look like.

[Brad]

The owner of Caddy's Riverside Grill just posted this photo.  The old boat is heading out:

[nativeomahan]

Destined for scrap, according to Channel 6.

[Omaha_Gabe]

Coming Soon!

[Coyote]

Plans show $22 million investment in Harrah's Council Bluffs including new Guy Fieri restaurant concept

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KMTV) — On Monday, Caesars Entertainment, Inc. shared plans for a $22 million investment at Harrah’s Council Bluffs. According to its press release, "the plans include expanding the casino gaming floor, remodeling hotel rooms, and a new dining concept with an acclaimed restaurant partner. The expansion will add new casino jobs and millions to local and state gaming tax revenues."

[skinzfan23]

From the OWH:

The casino's gaming floor is set to be renovated and expanded, allowing for 200 new slot machines as well as an enhanced sportsbook with a viewing and seating area. Construction on the $6 million project is set to start in spring. Officials said the gaming floor won't be closed during construction.


Renovations to the hotel, expected to cost $12 million, are slated to start in spring 2024. Rooms will feature fresh design elements featuring purple and blue color schemes with wood accents and contemporary fixtures.

[Coyote]

Guy Fieri's Kitchen + Bar slated to open at Harrah's in Council Bluffs

[Coyote]

Harrah’s Casino plotting $22 million expansion plan
The expansion includes plans for a Harrah’s location in Columbus.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (WOWT) - While Omaha prepares to enter the world of casino gambling, casinos in Council Bluffs aren’t standing idly by. Right now, there’s a lot going on inside of Harrah’s Casino, work crews are busy building a Guy Fieri restaurant. There are also plans to expand the gaming floor and remodel the hotel. Harrah’s is also bragging about their crown jewel, the Stir Cove, home to their summer concert series. Officials here are creating a one-stop entertainment package. “So if you’re going to come to a concert, have a great meal, you want to gamble after, you can do it all right here,” said Thomas Roberts, senior vice president of Harrah’s and Horseshoe Casinos.

Harrah’s officials expect the Guy Fieri restaurant to open this spring or early summer. Work on the gaming floor expansion will begin after that.

[ita]

Just watched the council meeting, and Harrah's is spending $4 million to build out Guy's restaurant. They were budgeting $1.5 million. That seems steep.

[almighty_tuna]

The road to Flavortown isn't cheap!

[Coyote]

Harrah's hotel and casino is making major renovations



Major changes are happening at Harrah’s hotel and casino in Council Bluffs. Those include a renovated parking and signs to the inside of the facility that’s adding a new celebrity chef's restauran, among other things. Tuesday afternoon those seeking a job at the restaurant got the chance to interview for a position. Guy Fieri's Council Bluff’s Kitchen and Bar, that started getting built inside the casino last November, is now planning to begin serving up dishes sometime in May. “We are looking at about 30 employee we are trying to bring on from cooks, servers, hosts, we are looking for everything,” said Thomas Roberts, Senior Vice President and general manager of Harrah’s and Horseshoe in Council Bluffs.

They are looking to pay $15 on up based on experience. Once the restaurant is up and running, they plan to continue expanding the casino gaming floor. “We are looking at 30 million plus if you look at what we already spent. The hotel remodel will be about 12 million dollars, the hotel expansion is 6 million dollars the Guy Fieri restaurant is about 4 million dollars, and what we have done to the property, we are putting Harrah’s on the map,” said Roberts. They will also look to renovate the hotel rooms as well.

“The competition is going to do what it’s going to do. Our job is to put our best step forward when it comes to the footprint here in Iowa and Council Bluffs,” said Roberts. He says he is excited for the new restaurant coming, as he believes this will bring a positive impact to the places people can dine in Council Bluffs.

[Coyote]

Guy Fieri opens restaurant at Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Council Bluffs



COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KMTV) — Legendary Restaurateur, Guy Fieri, better known as the Mayor of Flavortown, was in Council Bluffs Saturday to bring a piece of culinary expertise to Harrah's Hotel and Casino. The new restaurant features American-style cuisines such as sandwiches, burgers and also includes his signature dish, Trash Can Nachos.

[thenewguy]

I understand that this is going to be a big deal for a lot of people in town/around the area, but I flat out forgot it was even happening. Maybe I'll give it a try one day, but it's not high up on my list of exciting places to eat. Good pub for Harrah's, though.

[Big E]

The greatest restaurant review ever written:

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/dini ... quare.html

[Erik]

Guy Fieri opens restaurant at Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Council Bluffs



COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (KMTV) — Legendary Restaurateur, Guy Fieri, better known as the Mayor of Flavortown, was in Council Bluffs Saturday to bring a piece of culinary expertise to Harrah's Hotel and Casino. The new restaurant features American-style cuisines such as sandwiches, burgers and also includes his signature dish, Trash Can Nachos.

$4,000,000 seems high for what they're getting out if this

[nebugeater]

The reviews I have read across a bunch of platforms have been far from good for the he Guy Fieri spot

[Athomsfere]

The reviews I have read across a bunch of platforms have been far from good for the he Guy Fieri spot

Went to the one in Vegas once. If that's the flagship location I wouldn't even bother with another location.

Quality wise: It was great. I'm sure they turn out the exact same food day in and day out.

On style and taste, the style was Americana dialed up to 11, with extra fat and calories on top. And the flavor just wasn't there. It was Smashburger for thrice the price.

[Louie]

The reviews I have read across a bunch of platforms have been far from good for the he Guy Fieri spot

Went to the one in Vegas once. If that's the flagship location I wouldn't even bother with another location.

Quality wise: It was great. I'm sure they turn out the exact same food day in and day out.

On style and taste, the style was Americana dialed up to 11, with extra fat and calories on top. And the flavor just wasn't there. It was Smashburger for thrice the price.

I've eaten at the one at the Cancun airport a couple times. It does the job. He gets a bad rap for being cheesy and over the top, but Guy is a real champion for restaurant employees, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Athomsfere]

I've eaten at the one at the Cancun airport a couple times. It does the job. He gets a bad rap for being cheesy and over the top, but Guy is a real champion for restaurant employees, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

I've honestly never seen him in anything but pictures. He looks like a typical artist type to me.

I tried the place because the wedding party I was in all swore it would be awesome...

[ChadJK]

Here's the menu (with prices) for Guy Fieri's Kitchen + Bar:
https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-council ... d-bar/menu